Monitor kids’ use of mobile phones, DPM tells parents

SEREMBAN: Parents must monitor their children’s use of mobile phones to prevent the youngsters from falling victim to cyberthreats, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

She said this was based on the 5th Malaysia Population and Family Survey (KPKM-5, 2014) and a study by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in 2017.

She said the KPKM-5, 2014 survey found that the telephone was the highest medium of communication between teenagers and parents at 73%. It was followed by SMS (54.6%) and social media (15.6%).

The MCMC’s survey found that 83.2% of children aged five to 17 were Internet users and 93% of them surfed the Internet using their smartphones, she said.

“We all need to accept that a new generation has dawned on our children. We as parents must act wisely to tackle future challenges.

“The National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) has organised a campaign called ‘No Gadget Hour’ aimed at ensuring that parents spend quality time with their children and not focus on gadgets,” she said in her opening remarks at the National Family Month Celebration 2018 at the Negeri Sembilan LPPKN Centre yesterday. — Bernama